Church of Mary Magdalene

This is the church that always stands out on the side of the Mount of Olives when looking from the old city, because of its glistening golden Russian onion domes and crosses. It is a Russian Orthodox women's monastery near the Garden of Gethsemane. Access is gained through a small door in the wall by ringing the bell and waiting to be let in. We had no problem as we were a group of Orthodox pilgrims, but I understand that access may be limited--check ahead. The church is a typical Russian church but very beautiful, and the grounds are beautiful gardens. The church holds the relics of Russian Grand Duchess Elizabeth and her fellow nun Barbara, who were martyrs of the Russian Revolution. Be warned that there are many steps leading up the side of the hill to the church. Well worth a visit if you can.

Russian Church of Maria Magdalena is where the great passion of the Kaiser, the great Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, is buried. She was a Hesse cousin who refused the Kaiser and married the Tsar's uncle. After his death, in an attempt, she renounced everything and founded an order. In the Revolution she was brutally killed and taken through China to this church in Jerusalem, which she had visited when she was consecrated, since it was dedicated to her mother-in-law (czarina Maria Alexandrovna) and who was also her great-aunt of the German family of Hesse. In the same church consecrated to the Czarina Maria Alexandrovna, where is its nephew granddaughter and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Feodorovna also is buried the mother of Prince Phillip (husband of the queen Elizabeth) that was in turn niece of the Grand Duchess. I must add that this church is a dear place to Russians visiting Jerusalem And That the sisters and ladies that care for the church are REMARKABLY congenial and helpful , something not common in much others holy places .